By Victor Kanayo
Two continental sides, CS Ben Sekou Sylla from Guinea and Fountain Gate School of Tanzania, have been crowned champions of the boys’ and girls’ competitions respectively at the inaugural 2022/23 CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Final played in Durban, South Africa.
CS Ben Sekou Sylla defeated home favourites Clapham High School on penalties in Saturday’s final following a thrilling 1-1 draw played in front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 6,000 at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Fountain Gate had an easier time in seeing off Moroccan side Ecole Omar IBN Khatab 3-0 to cap a wonderful tournament.
The winning teams each receive USD300,000 after the Motsepe Foundation donated USD10-million in the inaugural year of the Pan-African schools competition.
The finals were the culmination of an outstanding four days of football in which the future stars of the African continent were able to showcase their quality in a celebration of the Beautiful Game.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa, all CAF Vice-Presidents, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan and COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva, as well as football leaders from across the African continent, were in attendance in Durban.
CS Ben Sekou Sylla won a hard-fought and physical boys’ final as they took the lead through the inspirational Amara Keita, but the South African outfit fought back and equalised via eventual Best Player award winner Kagiso Maloka.
That sent the game to penalties and it was the Guinean team who held their nerve to take the shoot-out 5-4 and lift the trophy.
They take home the first prize, while Clapham High School are rewarded with USD 200,000 for their silver medal.
Malawi’s Salima Secondary School claimed the bronze as they return home with USD 150,000 third prize. They defeated CEG Sainte Rita from Benin 3-1 in the third-place play-off and ensured two of the top three teams in the competition would be from the host zone COSAFA.
Fountain Gate School were worthy winners of the girls’ competition as they defeated Ecole Omar IBN Khatab from Morocco 3-0 in the final to become the inaugural champions and take home the USD 300,000 first prize.
Ecole Omar IBN Khatab earned a hefty consolation for their silver medal with USD 200,000 in prize-money for their school.
Scan Aid from The Gambia claimed third place as they edged Congolese side CSG De Mfilou 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in the bronze medal match.
